Posts Tagged ‘solar panels uk’

A report published last Friday by the Department of Energy and Climate Change shows that while production of fossil fuels in the UK fell by 10.1% with both oil and natural gas production plummeting by 12.2% and 13.9% respectively, renewables generation increased by 6.5% in the second quarter of 2012, in comparison to the same period of the previous year. (more…)

Almost two months after Eu ProSun, a new sustainable solar energy initiative to maintain a sustainable and vibrant solar manufacturing base in Europe, complained of unfair Chinese practices in the solar market, the European Commission has decided last 6th of September to start an investigation and to come to a decision on anti-dumping duties.

Milan Nitzschke, President of EU ProSun, the Sustainable Solar Energy Initiative for Europe said: “The European Commission took a big step today to save Europe’s green tech sector and broader manufacturing base. Chinese companies are selling solar products in Europe far below their cost of production, with a dumping margin of 60 % to 80%. This means that Chinese solar companies are making enormous losses, but are not bankrupt because they are bankrolled by the state. Such practices have led to over 20 major European solar manufacturers going out of business already in 2012 alone. If China destroys the EU solar industry where labour accounts for less than 10% of production costs, then virtually all European manufacturing sectors and jobs are under threat.”

Although solar panels manufacturing costs are dropping down thanks to technological advances, nowadays China is still capturing around 80% of the European market due to the dumping of subsidised Chinese production. If anti-dumping measures are imposed, not only Chinese monopoly would be stopped, but European solar market would also maintain, creating more jobs and helping to the growth of the European solar industry.

Nitzschke concluded: “EU ProSun calls on the EU to impose anti-dumping duties to restore fair competition and create a level playing field with China as soon as possible. If the EU acts quickly, we have a chance to maintain a sustainable solar manufacturing base in Europe.”

An online survey conducted by The Eco Experts revealed some interesting data about the relationship between the Britons and solar energy. There you go some facts!

Rising Energy Prices – Everyone’s problem

The survey reveals even the richest households in the UK are worried about the rising energy prices. Around 2/3rds of the surveyed say a sudden 30% increase in their energy bills couldn’t be afforded, and even among households earning more than £75,000 a year, 1/3rd claim they could not afford the increase. (more…)

Last week, Sainsbury’s announced the completion of a 69,500 solar panels installation on almost 170 of its 572 supermarkets in all the UK. The company says the panels, if combined all together, would cover 24 football pitches, and also claims the tittle of the biggest solar power generator in Europe, as, collectively, the panels would become the biggest solar array in all the continent.

Justin King, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, urged other retailers to “take another look” at investing in solar energy. “Supermarkets have the equivalent of football fields on their roofs, many of them underutilised,” he added. “It’s a perfect time to turn that space into something positive.“

Followed by the great results of last week solar pv installations, this week figures were even better! Still awaiting updates1 from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the first results published reveal that nothing more and nothing less than 9,390 solar photovoltaic installations were done in the UK during these last seven days!(more…)

The UK Government has introduced today the New Feed-in Tariffs scheme. From 1st of August on, residential tariffs for homes which have a Level D Energy Performance Certificate or above, will drop down from 21p per kWh to 16p, and the payment time will decrease 5 years, standing at 20 instead of 25. On the flip side, the Export Tariff will increase to 4.5p/kWh. The total benefit estimated now for a homeowner installing solar panels on or after 1st August is £866 in Year 1. (more…)

The aerodrome at Dunsfold Park, more known as the home of BBC’s Top Gear test track and studios, made history last 28th of June, becoming one of the nation’s only business parks to be powered entirely on ‘green energy’. (more…)

A group of more than 20 European companies representing the majority of EU solar PV production launched yesterday a new platform to complain of unfair Chinese practices in the solar market.

EU ProSun is a new Sustainable Solar Energy Initiative to maintain a sustainable and vibrant solar manufacturing base in Europe that aims to call on the European Commission in order to investigate unfair trade practices by Chinese manufacturers. (more…)

With more than 6,000 solar PV installations, this last week solar figures have overcome the expectations in the UK. Still awaiting updates1, the Department of Energy and Climate Change published today the new Weekly Solar PV Installations and Capacity document, revealing great results for this week ending 22nd July. (more…)